What happened
The vending machine was donated by the Sarah Cockrell Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. A ribbon-cutting was held Jan. 24 with members of the chapter, MISD board members and school leaders.
Every student at Caldwell Elementary will receive a book on their birthday, according to a news release. Students will also have a chance to earn books through achievements at school and positive behavior awards.
“This book vending machine will empower students to earn rewards through not only their achievements, but also through positive behavior, fostering a love of learning,” Sarah Cockrell Chapter Regent Ashley Clark Hunter said in the release. “We are deeply honored to contribute to this project and these funds will have a lasting impact on both the students and the future of our community.”
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Caldwell Elementary School is both a Title I school, which means more than 70% of students qualify for free or reduced lunches, and a Title III school with half of its students not speaking English as their first language. The school also holds MISD’s two-way dual language program, where students attend classes and learn in both English and Spanish.
The machine is filled with both English and Spanish titles at various reading levels to encourage all readers at the school.
The vending machine is meant to promote literacy in the school with the chapter committing to filling three years’ worth of books. Community partnerships are being explored to keep the machine filled indefinitely, the release stated.
